Saturday, February 19, 2011

Welcome to our fun blog hop with a twist! Every week swing by to link up your blog and one you want to spotlight! Did you find a new blog you liked this week? Is there one you visit on a daily basis? Well, simply link up your Spotlighted blog right under yours. We will Spotlight our favorite blogs of the week in spots 4, 5, and 6.

This week is Spotlight a favorite Blogger! I'm Spotlighting Blueviolet from A Nut in a Nutshell! Next week we will be spotlighting one of our favorite Mommy Blogs!

How it Works

1) Link up your own blog.2)Link up a blog you want to spotlight for the week.(ex. Spotlight: Roslyn's Closet)3) Follow your three hosts.4) Grab our button and post it on your sidebar or in a Spotlight Saturday Post.5) Follow as many blogs from the list as you like and leave a comment so they know you stopped by.6) Return the favor by following blogs that followed you.(Be aware that URL's cannot be duplicated so please have a second spotlight choice in mind. If your blog's URL has already been spotlighted, just add one you'd like to spotlight. And don't forget to leave a comment with the blog you spotlighted so they can come and join the blog hopping fun! )

Friday, February 18, 2011

Don't forget tomorrow is Spotlight Saturday! Hope you all come back in the morning to join us, along with Survey Junkie and Little Yaya's, for our fun little Blog Hop with a twist!!! Link up your own blog and another that you would love to share with the rest of us! Linky opens at midnight!

TheSupergirl by Nastia collection features trend-right, affordable apparel that encourages a message of empowerment, creativity, strength, intelligence and independence—the symbolic attributes and S-Shielf of Supergirl, the iconic DC Comics super heroine. The collection, created for today’s 4-12-year-old girls, will be available exclusively at JCPenney – in stores and on jcp.com.

Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP), on behalf of DC Comics, and JCPenney and five-time Olympic Medalist and World Champion Nastia Liukin debuted her new collection, Supergirl by Nastia over the summer. Nastia did a five-market tour JCPenney stores around the country where she provided young girls motivational advice on achieving their goals, feeling confident and being smart, strong and empowered—being a Supergirl. Nastia also introduced her new fun, affordable lifestyle collection, Supergirl by Nastia, available exclusively at JCPenney stores nationwide.

“The Supergirl S-Shield is considered a universal symbol of girl power and we’re looking forward to celebrating with Nastia and fans around the country as we unveil the highly anticipated Supergirl by Nastia collection,” said Karen McTier, executive vice president, domestic licensing and worldwide marketing, Warner Bros. Consumer Products. “Today’s girl is truly a Supergirl and we are proud to be partnering with Nastia Liukin and JCPenney to bring the entire collection to life at retail for all girls and their parents.”

The line retails from $20 - $38, making it affordable and exciting for girls to style themselves like a Supergirl. The collection will include active fleece, dresses and tunics, knit pants, signature Supergirl tees, dancewear, fashion leggings, shrug tops and more.

For the past four years, Warner Bros. has been supporting female athletes with the Supergirl Jam, the only large-scale, all-girls action sports competition and lifestyle/music festival. The Supergirl S-Shield is the universally recognized symbol of strength and leadership under which today’s sports girls unite. These “actionistas” embody the intelligence, independence, strength and creativity of the Supergirl brand.

Supergirl Sweepstakes: Training With Nastia

Hard work, determination, commitment – don’t you think you deserve a reward for all that you do for my favorite sport, gymnastics? I do! Which is why I am offering one lucky gymnast the chance to hang with me! We’ll have a private lunch and training session as well as a meet-and-greet event at your gym so all your friends will get the chance to talk to me, Nastia Liukin. And that’s not all. Have you seen my new fashion line at JCPenney, Supergirl by Nastia? It combines my love of gymnastics with my love of fashion! If you haven’t seen it yet, check it out and, by entering the sweepstakes, you could win some awesome merchandise from the collection. So get going today! When you register, you help your gym to also win. The more students from your gym who sign up, the greater the chances are for the gym to win $10,000 in new equipment.

Giveaway

Between the Lines has 3 signed head shots of Nastia Liukin and Supergirl Magnets to giveaway!

Mandatory Entry: Visit Supergirl or JCPenny's website and leave me a comment telling me your favorite Supergirl product Please leave your email address so I can contact you if you are the winner.

Extras: (Remember each entry must have a separate comment and an email address is needed to contact winner.)

~Tweet this giveaway leaving me your link. (3x a day not back to back) (1 entry each)

This giveaway will end on March 4th @10p.m Eastern

Giveaway open to US only. Winner will be chosen randomly. An email notification will be sent to the email address provided by the winner. The winner must respond within 48 hours. Failure to do so will result in being disqualified and a new winner will be chosen.

Disclaimer: This is a prewritten press release. I received no compensation for the post. Prizes are mailed out by the distributor and Between the Lines cannot be held accountable for prizes not sent

Last Sunday, Lori Pace, the blog author of A Day in Motherhood, was featured on Simply Stacie. She wrote a short, but funny post about her top 10 list of things she never thought she would say. I thought it was a fun idea and wanted to share a few of the things I never in my wildest dreams would I have thought I would say.

10 ~ Your sister is not food!
9 ~ I don't care if you throw up in the kitchen, just keep it off the carpet.
8 ~ Yes, you do have to wear clothes outside.
7~ We don't draw on Daddy's Computer Screen!
6 ~ Your bath can just wait another day.
5 ~ Cereal is a very healthy dinner.
4 ~ Fine. Go to school with messy hair. It doesn't bother me. (It really does though. :)
3~ Play with your toys. They're fun, I promise.
2~ I know you ate at lunch time, but you still need to eat dinner too.
And the #1 thing, I never thought I'd ever say....

1~ We do not hide poop in our backpack!

What is something that you never thought you would say to your children? Grab a latte, put up your feet, and join the discussion!

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Technology never ceases to amaze me. Every day, new devices are developed or improved. And while, most of these modern day devices are unbelievable to me, some I wish would just disappear and never be reinvented.

LOVE IT
One of my newest discoveries, and absolute LOVE, are my new car seat warmers! How did we manage before them?? There is nothing more unpleasant than stepping out into 20 degree temps and then having to sit on a seat that is colder. This is definitely an invention that I am so thankful for. Another new love is my iPad. It is like my own personal mini computer. I can check my email and Facebook, play games on my own or with my mom who is hundreds of miles away, listen to my favorite music, read some great books, catch up on any missed shows, watch a Netflix movie, and so much more. The iPad is probably the best present that my hubby has ever bought me!

HATE IT
Some of today's latest and greatest technology has me shaking my head. I might be the only one, but I can certainly do without cell phones that get internet and blue tooth ear pieces. If I'm home and need to check something on the internet, I can use my computer or iPad. If I'm out with friends or family, I figure I should be visiting with them and not be surfing the web. Of course, I understand that these types of cell phones are great for the work environment, but as a WAHM, it is not really a piece of technology I need. Now the blue tooth ear pieces...I wish they could be banned from public places. I am all for people using them when they are driving in the car, but at the grocery store??? How many times have you stopped to answer someone in the store only to discover that they weren't talking to you?? It has happened to me more times than I care to admit. But what can you expect? They are standing there all alone, looking at you, and talking. You are bound to think they are trying to get your attention.

GOTTA GET IT
Now on to those cool invention that I've seen in action, but don't own. On the top of my list is a GPS Navigator. I've never been a big fan of driving to new places and the main reason why is because I'm terrified of getting lost and not being able to find my way home. I'm not sure if having GPS would completely eliminate the fear, but I'm sure it would help. Deicer spray is another AMAZING invention that I need to get. :) My dad use to spray it on the windows when I was in college, but for some reason I forgot it until this winter. Every morning I look at the ice on the car windows and I think, 'I really need to find out where they sell that spray.' But for some reason, I always forget to buy it.

What great inventions to Love, Hate, or Gotta Get??? Grab a latte, put up your feet, and join the discussion!

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

When my girls were younger, not a day would go by where we wouldn't watch a Baby Einstein DVD. They would laugh, dance, sing, and learn. Baby Einstein introduced them to classical music, new animals, and the world around them. Although my girls are now too old for Baby Einstein, I know many of you have little ones who are just old enough to start enjoying them. Thanks to Baby Einstein, one lucky reader will be able to win one of their upcoming new Discovery Kits. Here is what Baby Einstein has to say about them:

Baby Einstein, an award-winning leader of infant products, is proud to announce the upcoming release of three exciting new titles –Baby Lullaby, Neptune’s Oceans and World of Rhythm- as part of its recently launched Discovery Kit collection. Baby EinsteinDiscovery Kitshelp provide parents with new ways to introduce their babies to the beautiful music, nature, animals and the world around them in playful and engaging ways - for which the company’s products are known.

The latest Discovery Kits are available for purchase on February 22nd. Each kit features a DVD, a music CD and a picture book or Discovery Cards, with each element complementing the others. The new Discovery Kits encourage parents to take what they and their little one have seen on screen, in the book or on the Discovery Cards, or listened to on the CD and apply it to baby’s everyday life. The kits are also designed to grow as baby grows and are organized in a way that offers three distinct levels of discovery: Experience, Explore & Expression.

Mandatory Entry: Visit Baby Einstein and leave me a comment telling me a DVD you'd love to share with your little one. Please leave your email address so I can contact you if you are the winner.

Extras: (Remember each entry must have a separate comment and an email address is needed to contact winner.)

~Tweet this giveaway leaving me your link. (3x a day not back to back) (1 entry each)

~ Enter another one of my current giveaways (1 each)

~Blog about this giveaway and leave me a link (10)

This giveaway will end on March 2nd @10p.m Eastern

Giveaway open to US and Canada only. Winner will be chosen randomly. An email notification will be sent to the email address provided by the winner. The winner must respond within 48 hours. Failure to do so will result in being disqualified and a new winner will be chosen.

Disclaimer: I received no compensation for my review nor was I under any obligation to give a positive review. Prizes are mailed out by the distributor and Between the Lines cannot be held accountable for prizes not sent

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Heading out after a long day at the office? Are you wearing your signature tired eyes and faded lips? Before you head out, head over to DuWop Cosmetics where they offer innovative and fun makeup perfect for you! DuWop Cosmetics, founded by makeup artist Cristina Bartolucci, prides itself in discovery what is missing from your makeup bag. "Full-figured lips, flawless skin, and wide-awake eyes are just a few of the fringe benefits brought to you by DuWop".

Are you looking to gain that sexy pouty look? Try DuWop's Lip Venom! This product, loved by the stars, "uses a blend of naturally plumping essential oils combined with glossing and nourishing oils for the ultimate glamorous look."

Trying to get rid of those puffy dark eyes? DuWop's igels are screaming your name! Each pack of igels contains three gelatin based eye covers that store in the refrigerator and go over your eyes for about 10 minutes. Each gel packs is infused with essential oils and they conform to the shape of your eye to reduce puffiness. And if care for properly, each pack can be reused up to four times.

DuWop doesn't stop there. Visit Apothica.com to see their great selections for the lips, cheeks, eyes, and face.

Disclosure: This post was written as part of the February’s Fringe Network Giveaway.

Are your children ready to share their art on a bigger stage than the refrigerator door? Let the world admire their little Picasso with Kidorable’s Facebook Artwork Contest. The winner will receive a complete Kidorable ensemble of their choice.

Here’s how it works—your child draws, paints, sculpts, or collages his or her favorite Kidorable theme. Show us your child’s artwork of frogs, ladybugs, pirates, or any other Kidorable style, and you could win the entire collection in his or her favorite style! Have a look here and choose your favorite. Just email a picture to contest@kidorable.com to enter.

Last week I made some delicious granola bars that were so easy to make, I just had to share. And although it made a pretty good amount, they were gone in less than 2 days. My sister-in-law and husband were skeptical at first because of the added coconut, but you can't really taste the it. It just brings a little extra sweetness to this delicious snack. We are hosting my mom's birthday party here next week and I've already had requests to make them again for the party. Enjoy!

Ingredients

3 cups quick-cooking oats

1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

2 tablespoons butter, melted

1 cup flaked coconut

1 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup sweetened dried cranberries

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9x13 inch pan.

In a large bowl, mix together the oats, sweetened condensed milk, butter, coconut, chocolate chips and cranberries with your hands until well blended. Press flat into the prepared pan.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in the preheated oven, depending on how crunchy you want them. Lightly browned just around the edges will give you moist, chewy bars. Let cool for 5 minutes, cut into squares then let cool completely before serving.

As most of you know, winter and I don't get along very well. The low temperatures and frigid winds are enough to make me cry (or just whine a lot). My neighbor often laughs at my girls and I, because during the winter months we wait at the bus stop in our car. Hey...why be cold if you don't have to? However, thanks to Afforable Scarves, I now have a fun and stylish scarf to keep the cold at bay.

At "Affordable Scarves you may indulge in high-quality, unique fashion scarves with prices that can't be beat. With their huge variety of colors, fabrics, and weaves, Affordable Scarves is just the answer for any smart shopper. They carry an unbeatable selection of styles, from silk scarves, cashmere scarves, and pashmina scarves to loop scarves, knit scarves, and shawls, with all items priced under $20. Looking for the perfect gift? Try a knit tartan fashion scarf or an animal print silk scarf. Our scarves are the perfect accessory no matter your style or budget. They also offer FREE standard shipping on all orders over $40."

Affordable Scarves sent me the Apen Extra Long Scarf (shown above) to review. This long, multi-colored scarf is extra warm and perfect for those extra windy days. I chose the neutral brown colors because it matches perfectly with most of my outfits and coat, but they also sell they same style in blue. Affordable Scarves has such a huge selection of scarves, that you are sure to find one that fits your sense of style.

Thanks to the generous people at Affordable Scarves, one lucky reader of Between the Lines is going to win a scarf of their choice.

Mandatory Entry: Visit Affordable Scarves and leave me a comment telling me your favorite style and color. Please leave your email address so I can contact you if you are the winner.

Extras: (Remember each entry must have a separate comment and an email address is needed to contact winner.)

~Tweet this giveaway leaving me your link. (3x a day not back to back) (1 entry each)

~ Enter another one of my current giveaways (1 each)

~Blog about this giveaway and leave me a link (10)

This giveaway will end on March 1st @10p.m Eastern

Giveaway open to US and Canada only. Winner will be chosen randomly. An email notification will be sent to the email address provided by the winner. The winner must respond within 48 hours. Failure to do so will result in being disqualified and a new winner will be chosen.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary scarf in exchange for my honest review. The opinions & thoughts expressed are my own. I received no other compensation for my review nor was I under any obligation to give a positive review. Prizes are mailed out by the distributor and Between the Lines cannot be held accountable for prizes not sent

Monday, February 14, 2011

If you love award shows like I do, you probably watched the Grammy Awards last night. No award show experience is complete without tuning in early to catch the arrival of the stars. The red carpet never fails to fascinate me. It is graced by some of the world’s best singers and actors. They are picked apart by the world’s toughest critics. And it is televised to millions and millions of homes. Despite all this, the stylists’ of the stars still keep their jobs. Take Nicki Minaj, Jenna Ushkowitz, and Florence Welch, for example. How was their stylist able to convince them that the dress they chose worked? Or better yet, why was there no one around to advise them against their own choice. Nicki Minaj was wearing all cheetah print from hair to toes, Jenna Ushkowitz was wearing a dress made out of see through black ribbon, and Florence Welch was wearing an all new swan dress. Then there are those like Lady Gaga who decided nobody needed to see her dresso n the red carpet. So she made her grand entrance while incubating in a human size egg. Of course, there are always the few good exceptions to the red carpet. The stars that choose to keep it simple (like Carrie Underwood, Martina McBride, and even Selena Gomez) never fail to stun their viewers with their classic beauty.

The Grammys this year was not short on surprising performances. Lady Ga Ga being born from an egg and Gwyneth Paltrow joining some puppets and a big rainbow chicken are the first that come to mind..Of course, let's not forget Justin Beiber and Will Smith's son up on stage acting like they are in their 30's. However, after I made it through those performances, I was able to enjoy the rest of the show. I was happy to see artists like Martina McBride, Jennifer Hudson, and Norah Jones give a good old fashion performance without all the glitz and glamour. I know it is fun to show your creative side, but sometimes musical artists get a little bit out of control. What were your thoughts on the show last night? Loved it? Hated it? Seen Better?

Everywhere you look today, people are on the go. Whether on the way to work or traveling for vacation, most of us find ourselves stopping at a fast food restaurant for a quick bite to eat or even to grab a quick cup of coffee. Of course we all know that eventually that fast food is going to find its way to our hips and thighs and those disposable coffee cups are going to overrun the landfills, but sometimes the convenience seems worth the price. Thanks to Cool Gear International, we now have an alternative choice. Cool Gear International creates innovative products for today's busy lifestyle.

StayFit Deluxe Cereal Kit

Cool Gear has ten great lines of products that are designed to fit almost every need. I was sent a bowl from the EZ-Freeze StayFit line and a mug from the eco2go line. The moment I saw the StayFit Deluxe Cereal Kit, I knew that it would be perfect for my husband. He is up, moving, and commuting 3 hours to work every morning by 5am. Most days he just skips breakfast, but other days he grabs a quick bite from the fast food joint in his office building. As a family, we try to maintain a healthy diet, but mornings are often too crazy for him. With the StayFit Deluxe Cereal Kit, I can pack him a healthy breakfast the night before and he can just grab it and save it for when he gets to the office. The top of the kit contains a non-toxic, BPA free, freezer gel that will keep his milk cold until he is ready to eat. The kit even includes a folded spoon that will make sure you are never without.

Cool Gear International also sent me the above mug from their eco2go line. This reusable, eco-friendly mug, hold 16.9 oz of hot or cold liquid. Not only is it great for travel, but it also has all the conveniences of a regular mug. With the lid off, it microwavable and it is also dishwasher safe. I love that it is leak proof and cool to the touch, even straight out of the microwave. The Cool Gear products can be purchased online at the Cool Gear Store, or at many local retailers.I've just recently bought a EZ-Freeze Water Filtration bottle from their Pure line at my local grocery store.

Mandatory: Check out the wide range of Cool Gear products, and let me know which one you would like to try. Please remember to leave you email address so I can contact you if you win.Extras: (Remember each entry must have a separate comment and an email address is needed to contact winner.)~ Follow Cool Gear on Twitter (2)~ Like Cool Gearon Facebook (2)~ Follow Between the Lines on Facebook (5) ~Follow Between the Lines (3) ~ Subscribe to my email (5)~ Grab any of my buttons and leave a link of where it’s displayed (5)~Add me to your Blogroll and leave a link (5)~Follow me on Twitter (2)~Tweet this giveaway leaving me your link. (3x a day not back to back) (1 entry each)~ Enter any of my other current giveaways (1 each)~ Grab my Twitter Hop or Blog Hop button and leave a link (3 each)~Blog about this giveaway and leave me a link (10)

This giveaway will end on February 28th @10p.m Eastern

*This giveaway is open to US and Canada only. Winner will be chosen randomly. An email notification will be sent to the email address provided by the winner. The winner must respond within 48 hours. Failure to do so will result in being disqualified and a new winner will be chosen.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary bowl and mug in exchange for my honest review. The opinions & thoughts expressed are my own. I received no other compensation for my review nor was I under any obligation to give a positive review. Prizes are mailed out by the distributor and Between the Lines cannot be held accountable for prizes not sent

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Congratulations to heartnsoulcooking! You are the winner of the NOVICA $35 giveaway! Out of 366 entries, heartnsoulcooking won with comment #52, "Grabbed your button and added it to my side bar". The winner has 48 hours to claim her prize or another winner will be randomly selected. Thanks to everyone who entered and a HUGE thanks to NOVICA for sponsoring such a fun giveaway!